Back

Doha – Qatar

The Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC) and Vodafone Qatar signed today a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support the implementation of the executive phase of Better Connections Program.

As per the MoU, Vodafone Qatar will support the ministry efforts in raising the ICT awareness and achieving better connections amongst migrant workers by providing internet connectivity services and devices in 1500 ICT established for the Better Connections Program.

The MoU was signed by Reem Al Mansoori, the Assistant Undersecretary of Digital Society Development at the Ministry of Transport and Communications and Ian Gray, Vodafone Qatar CEO and attended by Khalid Al-Ghanim, Labor International Relations Department Manager at the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs (MADLSA).

“MOTC will continue work with different entities and bodies concerned in the State of Qatar to broaden the program scope, increase the number of its beneficiaries and achieve more progress in digital inclusion across all the society,” said Al-Mansoori on the occasion.

“I believe that such work and cooperation with our partners and stakeholders will make a positive difference towards achieving the program goals and bear amazing fruits in the years to come,” she added.

From his part, Mr Ian Gray, CEO, Vodafone Qatar, said: “Vodafone globally have long championed the importance of giving internet access to all members of society so we are delighted that thousands of workers will benefit from being included in the digital world through the MOTC’s Better Connections Program that utilizes our world-class network.”

“The Better Connections Program seeks to enable employers to provide ICT tools and the Internet to migrant workers in their accommodation places in order to integrate them into the digital community, keep them connected with their friends and families, and enhance  their digital skills, in addition to helping them be aware of their work rights and responsibilities,” said Khalid Al-Ghanim, Labor International Relations Department Manager at MADLSA.

In its coming executive plans, the program targets the following: 1.5 million workers in the country, establishing 1500 ICT Lab, providing 15,000 computer devices at a cost of QR 55 million and securing 3000 volunteers, he added.

Following the MoU signing, Sheikh Hamad Bin Abdullah Bin Jassim Al-Thani, Chief Operating Officer, Vodafone Qatar, handed over representatives of a number of contracting companies participating in the program their Vodafone internet devices.

Launched by MOTC in cooperation with MADLSA last May, the executive phase of the Better Connections Program aims to broaden the program scope over the coming two years, taking the total number of ICT labs up to 1500 and achieving digital inclusion across all migrant workers in the country.

Noteworthy, the Better Connections Program, launched in 2014, is a unique initiative that will help workers reach their families back home, learn basic IT skills and build their wider knowledge through being digitally connected. It gives contractors and employers a practical framework to provide training and access to ICT tools for their labors. Program partners include several Qatari institutions, entities, and local contracting firms.